''Toke'' the dealer ???

[Dodger]

I have never played in a proper live game, as yet...and was amazed, reading my first Poker book, that... ''Poker dealers rely on tips as do other casino dealers. During a live game, it is customary for the winner of the pot to tip the dealer. Usually a player will toke the dealer a dollar a pot. In some low-limit game the player may opt for 50 cents but most players will tip something when they win. '' Assuming this is in ring games, but are you expected to tip (or toke) the dealer every time you win a hand or just when you win a decent pot? Could well imagine the dealer having more chips than anybody else at the end of the game. And what if you over tip...couldn't this be seen as a bribe or pay-off? Just need a bit of feedback from experienced casino goers, because I do not wish to make an arse of myself when I eventually venture into the real world! Also...do you tip if you win a tournament...never seen a winning player with wads of dosh in front of them in a TV game shoving a grand across to the dealer!

[BAM]

Re: ''Toke'' the dealer ??? In Vegas you drop the dealer a $1 (but you dont have to) when you win a pot when I was taking the blinds I gave them sweet FA and as in everything in the States a tip depends on good service and it makes the dealers very efficient and friendly as they rely on your tips. When you get a crap dealer dont be afraid not to tip. In vegas tourneys the TD will ask for a tip for the dealers as you collect and this is generally 10% (unless you are Uber ) In this country it varies best to check with the manager first but generally the dealers dont rely on tips but in some casinos they charge £2.50 per person per hour to play so they dont get my tip. I have tipped dealers in this country but only when it has been a good night and they have been good and friendly because you do get some right miserable bastids. I have never tipped for tourneys in this country but that is probably because I have never won one.

[slapdash]

Re: ''Toke'' the dealer ??? I thought that in casinos in the UK it was illegal for the dealers to accept tips? Or is it just that in some casinos it's against the casino's own rules?

[mrmuzeman]

Re: ''Toke'' the dealer ??? Hey mate, to answer your questions (im a dealer btw, no not a drug dealer)...

Assuming this is in ring games, but are you expected to tip (or toke) the dealer every time you win a hand or just when you win a decent pot?

It is actually up to you. I would personally give the following advice, if you win a reasonable pot, tip the dealer a dollar or two and if you win a big fat pot or all in pot, tip the dealer 5 dollar. Dont worry about the smallish pots at all. As I said though it is up to you. Dealers wages vary a lot from place to place. In some cases all the dealers earn is tips with no other wage paid to them, so obviously tips are very important to dealers. In some cases dealers are paid reasonably hourly anyway so tips are just a welcome bonus for them. I think in America a common scenario is that dealers get paid min wage + tips.

And what if you over tip...couldn't this be seen as a bribe or pay-off?

Absolutely not so dont worry about that.

Also...do you tip if you win a tournament

This again is up to you. Some places already deduct a % of the prizepool for the dealers tips anyway (say 5% of the prizepool shared amongst the dealers). Obviously any extra is always welcome. Some dont though and it is expected (but again not compulsary) for anyone who wins a lot of money (so usually the top 2 I guess) to just tip a bit.

When you get a crap dealer dont be afraid not to tip.

Yeah if the dealers being an arse I wouldnt tip him either. As a dealer you have a service to provide in being as efficient and courteous as you can so if they arent doing that then I wouldnt tip them. If they are I would.

[GaF]

Re: ''Toke'' the dealer ??? I hate the whole concept of "toke"ing ...... players should be charged a reasonable amount, such that the dealers are paid "fairly" ... in effect the way it is, it's just an additional cost/rake..... I was shocked to see that in Vegas, for MTTs it's not uncommeon for a 40% fee to be deducted, yet for all the prize winners still to be expected to pay a percentage of their prize winnings for the dealer (or an add on at the start that is given in whole to the dealer - $5 to double your starting chips or similar) - at the end, over 50% of the prize pool is being deducted in costs by the casino - I don't know how big you think your edge is, but it aint THAT big!!! Can't see how you can beat them!!!

[Dodger]

Re: ''Toke'' the dealer ??? Some interesting replies there, thanks.:ok Guess I will have to check with whatever casino I go to to find what their rules are. Must be honest, I assumed that all dealers would be reasonably well paid and that tips would not be allowed. But clearly from mrmuzemans comments this is not the case.

[philossify]

Re: ''Toke'' the dealer ???

I hate the whole concept of "toke"ing ...... players should be charged a reasonable amount, such that the dealers are paid "fairly" ... in effect the way it is, it's just an additional cost/rake..... I was shocked to see that in Vegas, for MTTs it's not uncommeon for a 40% fee to be deducted, yet for all the prize winners still to be expected to pay a percentage of their prize winnings for the dealer (or an add on at the start that is given in whole to the dealer - $5 to double your starting chips or similar) - at the end, over 50% of the prize pool is being deducted in costs by the casino - I don't know how big you think your edge is, but it aint THAT big!!! Can't see how you can beat them!!!

Only ever having played small stakes limit games on my Vegas visit I was thinking that I'd like to play in an MTT or two next time I go - but if theres 40% disappearing up front then sod that for a game of soldiers. I can probably understand it somewhat as (presumably) you don't tip during the tournement ... but 4o% seems excessive - you would have thought they'd want to compete better with the online providers. The house rake (10%), plus dealers toke's on the small stakes ($1-$3) limit game whilst excessive was made up for by the free drinks plus the fact that your average Brit can take his booze much better than an American. They don't serve pints generally and the lag time between ordering and arrival of a 12-oz bottle was was enough to keep me happy (with brain still vaguely working) rather than paralytic. My tipping of the dealer on the low stakes game basically went 1. No tip if didn't get to see the flop 2. SB tip (50 cents) on $3-$7 pot (typically one where didn't get past turn) 3. 10% (min $1) on pots above $7 Couple that to $1 tip for each drink and I was happy to come out slightly ahead - but some of the dross the others where staying with had to be seen to be believed. :rollin . A small loss would have been worth it for the entertainment value.

[GaF]

Re: ''Toke'' the dealer ??? This is a good looking site for seeing how much rake you are paying ..... it can be as little as 9% ..... This excludes what you are expected to give in addition (as percentage of prize money http://www.allvegaspoker.com/tournaments.php?ocol=fees_returned&ord=asc

[robilaruk]

Re: ''Toke'' the dealer ??? why pay an extra 10% rake every hand you win? (on top of what the casino rakes) feck that for a game of soldiers - I would tip at the end of a session if i am up alot, but not every time I win you are giving up a BB - I'll keep it thanks for my BR - coz in a few hands time I'll need it to pay for the privilege of sitting there the vegas casino's make enough cash to pay their dealers something decent - I ain't subsidising them Damo

1. No tip if didn't get to see the flop 2. SB tip (50 cents) on $3-$7 pot (typically one where didn't get past turn) 3. 10% (min $1) on pots above $7 Couple that to $1 tip for each drink and I was happy to come out slightly ahead - but some of the dross the others where staying with had to be seen to be believed. :rollin . A small loss would have been worth it for the entertainment value.

[dik9]

Re: ''Toke'' the dealer ??? At the moment in the UK, House dealers are not allowed to accept tips in casino's, and there is no rake allowed from the house. The only charge they can make, is an hourly session charge. But.............. In September in ring games in UK casino's, you will be charged, session fees, rake and the dealer will be able to accept tips!!! In comps, you can now be charged a registration fee AND a session fee, that at the moment is a one off nightly payment, however, it is legal for them now to charge that "session fee" every hour, in effect this means the longer you last in a tourny, the more you may have to pay. So bubbleing will cost you a fortune.......FCKN PISS TAKE REALLY. That's why I have come out of casino's and work freelance, and I rely solely on tips? If you are happy with my service and win a bit then why not tip as the places that i work do not charge any of these extra's, it ensure the dealer's are 100% focused as they should be. I was playing cash in casino last week and the dealer never shut and actually stopped the game to have a chat with a regular about the football. Very infuriating when a session has been paid!

[mrmuzeman]

Re: ''Toke'' the dealer ???

Guess I will have to check with whatever casino I go to to find what their rules are. Must be honest, I assumed that all dealers would be reasonably well paid and that tips would not be allowed. But clearly from mrmuzemans comments this is not the case.

Yeah I guess you have to check, I dont work in a casino btw its a poker club so maybe the rules are different between casinos and private clubs. I have to say I dont really like the idea of tipping in ring games much either. A little bit in big pots is fine but I certainly wouldnt be an excessive tipper if I was playing. Dont think you must tip every hand or anything like that. Im really not sure I will ever want to deal in cash games either cos I dont like the idea of it so much relying on tips from people to earn a wage at all. Something doesnt sit comfortably with me about it. I deal in tournaments and obviously this differs greatly. However where I work there is a 5% deduction taken from the prizepool for all dealers which acts as the tip which is a much welcome bonus and makes the job a much nicer proposition. It also negates the, 'should I or shouldnt I' tip thing for the player who wins and doesnt put any pressure on them as its already taken care of. Of course cos the winner is usually on a buzz and has witnessed you dealing him all manner of sweet river cards they usually leave something as well anyway.